News: Quebec calls for greater trade co-operation with India

(BL 26/11/2006) New Delhi - Emphasising greater co-operation in trade, the Quebec Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Raymond Bachand, said, "I am not satisfied with the quantum of relations we have with India. We both wish to base our future growth on knowledge and innovation. We must enhance our co-operation in these areas". The Minister was speaking at a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Friday.

While deliberating on India's importance to Quebec, Bachand said: "India forms a core country for Quebec to concentrate on and we intend to increase our presence here substantially".

The Minister also emphasised the importance of freer trade, not only in terms of goods and services, but also in terms of freer movement of people, science, research and university exchanges. This is likely to lead to increased partnership in knowledge intensive industries with India.

The Canadian State's delegation has over the last one week also concluded a number of future steps for research exchange programmes with Indian small and medium enterprises in the area of biotechnology and aerospace.